Thoughts inspired by the David Sedaris book Happy-Go-Lucky and Randall Munroe's illustrated compendium What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions.

Cameo appearances from mystery author Adrian McKinty and the Willie Nelson joke.

Thoughts inspired by Don Winslow's novel "City on Fire."

Cameos from Michael Corleone, Freddo Corleone, Henry Hill, Paulie Cicero, Tony Soprano, and Kay Adams.

Thoughts inspired by the H.G. Wells novel "The Island of Doctor Moreau" and the Silvia Moreno-Garcia reboot "The Daughter of Doctor Moreau."

Cameos from Dr. Malcolm and Hammond (Jurassic Park) and Cleopatra and the chanting freaks from "Freaks."

Thoughts inspired by Blake Crouch's sci-fi thriller "Dark Matter."

Shane Carruth's film "Primer" makes a cameo appearance.

Thoughts inspired by Gary Gerstle's "The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order."

Cameos from Homer Simpson, The Dude, Michael Clayton, and Shiva: the God of Death.

Thoughts inspired by Jonathan Franzen's novel Crossroads and Maggie Nelson's article "Great to Watch." 

Cameos by Elizabeth Mary Jennings, Ryan Trecartin's I-Be Area, and Fleabag.

Murder . . . in South Central and Deep Space.

Thoughts inspired by Jill Leovy's Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America and Martha Wells' locked-room-deep-space-robot-detective-murder-mystery Fugitive Telemetry.

Cameos by Major Howard "Bunny" Colvin and N.W.A.

Thoughts inspired by Ann Leary's novel The Foundling.

Thoughts inspired by the works of Colson Whitehead, particularly Harlem Shuffle and The Underground Railroad. 

Cameos by Warren Buffet, Jared Diamond, Richie Jerimovich, and Michael Corleone. 

Thoughts (loosely) inspired by the works of Joy Williams, particularly The Changeling, Harrow, and The Quick and the Dead.